Corinthians beat Internacional, but crash out of Copa do Brasil | OneFootball

Corinthians took the field on Thursday night (6) to face Internacional at Neo Química Arena in the second leg of the 2026 Copa do Brasil round of 16, and won 2-1. Alvinegro’s goals were scored by Gustavo Henrique and Pedro Raul. Despite the victory, Timão says goodbye to the national knockout competition, as they had been beaten 2-0 in the first leg.

The Corinthians coaching staff could not count on the following players for the clash against the Colorados: left-back Hugo Farias (in physical transition after recovering from knee cruciate ligament surgery), defensive midfielder Alex Santana (in physical transition after trauma to his right knee), attacking midfielders Vitinho (left knee meniscus surgery) and Zakaria Labyad (left knee meniscus and ACL injury), as well as forwards Kayke Ferrari (recovering from cruciate ligament surgery), Yuri Alberto (right hamstring injury), and Memphis Depay (still negotiating a contract renewal).

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

With that, coach Fernando Diniz started the match with: Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, Gabriel Paulista (Allan), Gustavo Henrique and Matheus Bidu; Raniele, André Luiz (Jesse Lingard), Breno Bidon (Matheus Pereira) and Rodrigo Garro (Dieguinho); Kaio César (André Carrillo) and Pedro Raul.

The bench options were: Kauê Camargo, André Ramalho, Iago Machado, João Pedro Tchoca, Pedro Milans, Fabrizio Angileri, Allan, Charles, Matheus Pereira, Dieguinho, Jesse Lingard and Gui Negão.

Internacional lineup

Uruguayan coach Paulo Pezzolano chose to start the match with the following team: Matheus Cunha; Bruno Gomes, Gabriel Mercado, Maripán and Matheus Bahia; Paulinho, Bruno Henrique and Alan Patrick; Vitinho, Bernabei and Carbonero.

The substitutes were: Anthoni, Brian Aguirre, Juninho, Pedro Kauã, Luiz Felipe, Gabriel Vinicius, Ronaldo, João Kempes, Allex, Calebe, Alerrandro and João Bezerra.

Officiating

The referee was Felipe Fernandes de Lima (MG), assisted by Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos (PR) and Felipe Alan Costa Oliveira (MG). The fourth official and the VAR were, respectively, Wanderson Alves dos Santos (MG) and Rodrigo Nunes de Sá (SP).

Next match

After facing Internacional in Itaquera in the second leg of the 2026 Copa do Brasil round of 16, Corinthians will turn their focus back to the Brazilian Championship. That is because next Sunday (9), they will visit Red Bull Bragantino at Estádio Cícero de Souza Marques, in Atibaia, at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time), for the 22nd round of the national competition. Currently, Alvinegro sits ninth with 29 points — seven wins, eight draws, and six defeats — with 22 goals scored and 20 conceded.

First half

The opening minutes of the match between Corinthians and Internacional saw the Corinthians side keeping possession between the defensive and middle thirds after the team from Rio Grande do Sul played a long ball with goalkeeper Matheus Cunha from the back. After nearly one minute, Kaio César received the ball on the right and found André Luiz through the middle, but he was dispossessed.

Right after that, Matheus Bidu was played in behind on the left and crossed toward Pedro Raul, who could not get there as the ball ran right across the box. In the third minute, Garro found Kaio César on the right wing. Wearing No. 37, he cut onto his left foot and, when he tried to cross, the ball deflected off an Internacional player, headed toward goal, and Matheus Cunha tipped it out for a corner!

Rodrigo Garro took the corner from the right to the near post, and center-back Gabriel Paulista headed wide! After six minutes, the entire Corinthians team was in the attacking half circulating the ball in the final third, trying to break through the compact marking of the Colorado side. In the eighth minute, Internacional tried their first attacking move down the right with Vitinho and Carbonero, whose cross, after a deflection, went into Hugo Souza’s hands.

In the 10th minute, Corinthians won a corner after Kaio César received the ball on the right wing, crossed with his left foot, and Internacional’s defense cleared it behind. Garro delivered to the near post and the Timão player headed poorly. In the 11th, Matheuzinho played a short corner with Breno Bidon, and No. 7 lifted it into the box, but the opposing defenders cleared it away.

After 13 minutes, the club from Parque São Jorge had control of the game with more possession, but had still not seriously threatened Internacional’s goal. Shortly after, midfielder André Luiz was fouled in midfield after taking a hard challenge from defensive midfielder Paulinho. Rodrigo Garro went straight for goal and nearly caught Matheus Cunha out!

In the 18th minute, Timão started a move from the back through Gustavo Henrique and André Luiz. The ball fell to Rodrigo Garro, who was dispossessed. Soon after, Matheuzinho crossed from the right and, after the loose ball inside the area, Matheus Bidu shot over! At the halfway point of the first half, the picture remained the same. The team from Rio Grande do Sul continued looking for a counterattack to take advantage of any Timão mistake, but until then had only defended.

In the 22nd minute, the club from Parque São Jorge once again worked the ball around the attacking third and had a sequence of blocked shots, two from André Luiz and one from Raniele. By the midway point of the opening half, Timão was still struggling to trouble Internacional. Eight minutes later, Kaio César was brought down on the right wing and won a free kick. Matheuzinho took it and Bernabei cleared.

In the 36th minute, Garro crossed toward Pedro Raul inside the area, but Internacional’s defense sent it out for a corner. No. 8 took it and Maripán cleared it outside the box. By the 40th minute of the first half, the club from Parque São Jorge had dropped off and could no longer impose itself in the attacking half, relying too much on long balls and misplaced crosses, especially from Kaio César.

Soon after, Matheuzinho crossed to the far post, Matheus Bidu laid it back into the middle, it passed Garro, and Bidon shot, with a deflection, wide. Garro took the corner and Internacional’s defense cleared it. In the 42nd minute, Corinthians’ first goal! After Garro’s free kick, the ball got past Pedro Raul, Matheus Cunha spilled it, and Gustavo Henrique fired it into the net!

When the clock hit 45 minutes, six more were added. In the 46th minute, Timão won a free kick from midfield, Rodrigo Garro took it, and a foul in favor of Internacional was called. Right after, Gustavo Henrique made a clearance on the byline and a corner was given to Colorado. On the set piece, Corinthians’ defense cleared.

In the 49th minute, Kaio César made an individual move down the right and crossed into the box, but Internacional’s defense cleared. A minute later, Garro crossed toward the left side, but a foul was called on the Internacional player. In the 51st minute, the first half ended! Corinthians 1-0 Internacional!

Second half

To start the second half, coach Fernando Diniz made no changes. The opening minutes of the second half between Corinthians and Internacional saw the Corinthians side pushing forward around the attacking third and sending a few crosses into Internacional’s box.

In the second minute, midfielder Breno Bidon was fouled in midfield. Rodrigo Garro sent it toward Gustavo Henrique, but the play was stopped for offside. After six minutes of the second half, the club from Parque São Jorge controlled the game but did not threaten Matheus Cunha’s goal.

In the seventh minute, Gabriel Paulista crossed from midfield toward Matheus Bidu, who laid it back and Matheuzinho shot wide. Right after, the officials called offside and the attack was halted. In the 10th minute, defensive midfielder Raniele received the ball deep on the left, made an individual move, lost the duel, and the ball went out for a corner. No. 14 appealed for the corner, but the officials gave a goal kick.

In the 13th minute, Internacional equalized. After a long ball into the attacking half, Alan Patrick controlled it and rolled it left to Bernabei, who finished into goalkeeper Hugo Souza’s net. Two minutes later, Matheus Bidu received a pass on the left and Bruno Gomes sent it out for a corner. Rodrigo Garro took it and the opponents cleared.

In the 18th minute, Corinthians made their first two changes: defensive midfielder Allan and midfielder Jesse Lingard came on for Gabriel Paulista and André Luiz, respectively. After Internacional’s equalizer, Corinthians, who had already been lacking creativity, dropped even further in level and went back to desperately sending excessive crosses into the box.

In the 24th minute, Jesse Lingard, who had only just come on, received the ball on the left, cut onto his right foot, and crossed for Pedro Raul to head into Matheus Cunha’s hands. In the 25th minute, Corinthians’ second goal! Allan played it wide to Garro, who passed to Matheus Bidu. No. 21 crossed, and Pedro Raul headed it into the net!

Right after, Internacional responded with a dangerous long-range shot from Bernabei that went just wide. In the 27th minute, Pedro Raul won a corner for Corinthians. On the set piece, Internacional’s defense cleared. Four minutes later, Raniele was fouled in midfield. Rodrigo Garro delivered it into the middle of the box and Internacional’s defense cleared.

By the 34th minute, Timão kept pressing in search of a third goal to at least take the match to penalties. In the next minute, Alvinegro played out from the back, Garro got the ball, made an individual run, and was fouled. No. 8 delivered onto Gustavo Henrique’s head, but he nodded it into Matheus Cunha’s hands.

After that, Corinthians made two more changes: midfielders Matheus Pereira and André Carrillo came on for Breno Bidon and Kaio César, respectively. In the 39th minute, Matheuzinho and André Carrillo threatened down the right. No. 19 crossed and Maripán sent it out for a corner. Garro took it and, on the rebound, Matheuzinho hit the post: In the 40th minute, the final change came as Rodrigo Garro left the field for Dieguinho.

When the clock reached 54 minutes, nine minutes were added. In the 46th minute, Raniele suffered a hard challenge from Mercado and, right after, Corinthians won a corner. On the set piece, Internacional’s defense cleared, Dieguinho crossed, and the danger was cleared again. In the 50th minute, Matheus Bidu had his cross blocked by Bruno Gomes. He then took a low corner himself and Internacional’s defense cleared.

In the 52nd minute, Matheus Pereira misplaced a switch to Dieguinho. Bernabei won it, found Alerrandro, who laid it off for Bruno Gomes to finish close to Hugo Souza’s goal. In the 54th minute, full time: Corinthians 2-1 Internacional.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.